Although the company originally thought it was a brilliant idea
to use an "all-natural" ingredient to flavor its drinks, vegans
across America
protested on Change.org since they couldn't consume the
drink.

Now Starbucks is swapping out the bugs for an ingredient called
lycopene. A company spokesperson tells us that
it's a "plant-based alternative" and offered this statement from
corporate:

After careful consideration, we will be replacing cochineal
extract with lycopene – a natural, tomato-based extract – in the
strawberry sauce (base) used in our Strawberries & Crème
Frappuccino blended beverage and Strawberry Banana Smoothie.
Likewise, we are transitioning away from the use of cochineal
extract in our food offerings which currently contain it
(Raspberry Swirl Cake, Birthday Cake Pop, Raspberry Swirl Cake,
Mini Donut with pink icing, and Red Velvet Whoopie Pie).